75 & 77 Boat Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey L plan complex comprising a house and shop on corner of Boat Street and Quay Street.

Roof is natural slate and gabled at each end, and hipped at the corner. There are two cement-rendered brick chimneys, one on the corner, and the other on the Boat Street gable. Half-round metal rainwater goods (partly missing). Walls are of unpainted and lined cement render. The building is canted at its and this wall contains entrance to shop. This comprises a pair of two-panel timber leaves, with two-pane transom light above. Directly above is a 2/2 sliding sash window (horizontally divided). This and all other windows have granite cills.

Left of this door, on the Quay Street frontage, is a large shop window with four vertical fixed lights, the end panes are divided by a horizontal glazing bar and the opening is flanked by timber pilasters supporting a wooden fascia. To the left of this window is a coach arch with horizontal head. It contains two t+g painted timber doors. At first floor, above the shop window, is a 2/2 sliding sash window, identical to that over the door. There is also an identical window above the coach arch.

Right of the main door, on the Boat Street frontage, is a shop window identical to the first one. To its right is a 6/6 sliding sash window. At first floor are three similar windows; the middle one is aligned over the ground floor window.

Abutting the Boat Street gable is a two-storey store, set at right angles to the street. It has a pitched natural slate roof. The gable elevation (to street) has a door, and small window in the apex. On the right cheek, the section nearest the street is cement rendered but is otherwise of random rubble granite. No rainwater goods.

NB When this building was re-inspected in January, the roof had been covered in plastic sheeting and the windows boarded over.

Historical information

Not shown on the 1835 OS map or valuation. First cited in the 1863 valuation, being described in its present form. This indicates a mid 19th century construction date. It is cited in 1886 as being a grocery shop belonging to Patrick Grant.

Primary Sources:

1. 3. OS 6" map, 3rd edition (1902) Co Down sheet (PRONI OS 9/15/1/3)
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/ 389.
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/3/69K, p.300.

Secondary Sources:

1. G.H. Bassett (1886), Co Down: a guide and directory.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two-storey L plan complex comprising a house and shop with an attractive, but plain shop front to each street.